MEO, in collaboration with Altice Labs and the Instituto de Telecomunicações, has carried out the first demonstration in Portugal of a quantum key distribution system integrated into the conventional services of a commercial fiber optic network. According to SAPO TeK, the solution was presented at the Portugal Digital Summit 2026 and uses an encrypted video calling system over a 50G-PON connection.
How quantum technology works in fiber optics
The core technical challenge lies in signal coexistence. Cláudio Rodrigues, head of the Optical Devices and Components department at Altice Labs, explained that the equipment used supports the simultaneous presence of three technologies: GPON, XGS-PON, and 50G-PON technology. The innovation consists of injecting layers of quantum protection over existing fiber infrastructure, without the need to create a dedicated network exclusively for this purpose.
The development team has been working on this integration for about a year and a half, while the 50G-PON project has been evolving for two years. The technical question at hand is how to transport quantum technology across networks shared by multiple customers without causing interference to services already operating in the field.
Future threats and sensitive data protection
The urgency of this research is linked to the evolution of quantum computing, which could, in the future, compromise current encryption methods. The tactic known as 'Harvest Now, Decrypt Later' worries experts, as it involves collecting data today to decrypt it only when quantum computers capable of breaking current protections become available.
Faced with this scenario, MEO points out that quantum key distribution is a necessary response for critical sectors, such as banking, public administration, and defense. Altice Labs is already anticipating the next steps: the team is developing a quantum security approach that does not require the use of photons and expects to adopt post-quantum cryptography mechanisms in network equipment starting as early as next year.
Regarding the IT market in Portugal, these experiments on real-world infrastructure mark a turning point in how operators and companies manage data security. What remains to be seen is how this technology will scale beyond laboratory tests and commercial demonstrations, definitively integrating into the infrastructure that supports the national digital economy.
